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'I do not blame the council for asking for my resignation. What I did is indefensible. I'm not proud of it. I'm an alcoholic.

'Did I pass out on a bar? Yes I did. I'll admit that. Was I in a scuffle? Yes. Did I start it? No, I did not.'

Explaining the events of the weekend, Ryan added: 'I consequently went out for dinner on a Friday, began drinking and it began a three-day drinking session.

'I'm not proud of it. That's not me, but that's the alcoholic within me.'

Defiant: Sheboygan Mayor Bob Ryan said this morning he has no plans to resign despite a united call for his resignation from Sheboygan aldermen

'Alcohol has never affected the way I do my job. Alcohol has affected my personal life greatly.

'I have never walked into a city meeting or council meeting under the influence of alcohol.'

Ryan also detailed his attempts to cope with his alcoholism and his plans moving forward.

'I work every day on it. I do go to group meetings. I have been through treatment. I do meet with doctors. I do meet with psychologists. I will continue to do so. I am going into an intensive outpatient program which will allow me to work on my issues more readily and still continue on my job.

'That will be an evening and weekend group session, and I will still be able to carry on my duties as mayor.'

Police had to be called after reports of an altercation at one bar in the early hours of Monday morning, with eyewitnesses claiming the Mayor was the aggressor.

In an initial interview, Mr Ryan claims he was only drinking on Saturday and that he drove home sober the following day.

But a picture taken by another customer on Sunday shows the Mayor, slumped over, his head on a table and a large drink close by.

While Ryan was passed out, two women bared their breasts and pictures were taken. Another man took the Mayor's watch off, put it on his own wrist and had his picture taken before putting it back.

Fans: Protesters show their support for the mayor the last time he went on a drink binge when a YouTube video showing him drunk and sexually degrading a relative was released

An eyewitness described the altercation. 'Basically Ryan was being a jerk. After a while one guy got sick of it and punched him twice. Bar stools went flying, glasses went flying. Both men were thrown out of the bar.

It is not the first time the Mayor has stirred controversy since being elected to the city's top post.

He faced a sexual harassment allegation after a female employee claimed she rejected his drunken advances and was later sacked by the city.

And Mr Ryan also featured on a video posted on YouTube in which he is heard making sexually explicit remarks about his sister-in-law.

That created such an online buzz it featured in a Jay Leno monologue.

In 2010, Mr Ryan admitted he had alcohol problems and was going to counselling.

Council members in Sheboygan, a city of just over 50,000 people on Lake Michigan's shore, are now saying enough is enough.

At a meeting on Wednesday, they called on Mr Ryan to resign.

Council president Eric Rindfleisch said: 'The council is extremely disappointed in the Mayor's actions.'

Mr Ryan has 'once again brought embarrassment to the city' and should stand down 'in order to focus on his addiction and his family and to allow the city to move forward', said Mr Rindfleisch.

Devoted: His wife Mary has always stood by her husband during his much publicised battle with alcohol

Further action to remove him will be taken if he does not resign. Mr Ryan said he would only resign if he relapses again.

In an earlier interview given following initial reports of him being spotted out drinking, Mr Ryan said he had a couple on a Saturday night out with friends.

He also said a man he did not know pushed him a couple of times during a minor altercation.

But that story fell apart as eyewitnesses came forward claiming he was drinking for several days from mid-afternoon to closing time in two bars in the resort.

One bartender described his behaviour as a 'rampage'.

The witnesses accused Mr Ryan of being rude and vulgar to other customers, particularly women.

And a police report states officers were called to the Brown Baer bar in the early hours of Monday morning following a 911 report of a man in a blue shirt causing a disturbance.

When officers arrived they found Mr Ryan outside the bar sitting on the curb. The scene was calm.

Several people pointed to the Mayor as the person who caused the disturbance, described as a brief scuffle involving at least one punch thrown.

'Due to not having any type of complainant or victim...Ryan was warned for his actions and was told that any further contact tonight would result in a citation,' Officer Scott Niemi said in his report.

Ryan is 48, and married to Mary. They have three children. He was elected mayor in April 2009.

Sheboygan has been named by Forbes as one of the best small cities in the U.S. for business and careers and some years ago by Readers Digest as the best place to raise a family.

The Readers Digest survey focussed on the absence of crime and low rates of drug and alcohol abuse, among other criteria.

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'Did I pass out in a bar? Yes, I did.' Red-faced U.S. mayor apologises after being caught on weekend drinking bender